Perforating apparatus



' y 1940. K. J. DOLLAHITE 2,201,481

PERFORATING APPARATUS Filed'Jan. 12, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY May 21, 1940. K. J. DOLLAHITE- v PERFORATING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 12, 1958 Kemze fl? JDoZla/zz'fe INVENTOR.

- ATTORNEY.

Patented May 21, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE T 11 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of printing, and it has particular reference to apparatus for perforating paper stock, card board, etc., commonly known to the printing art, and its principal object resides inthe provision of a combination'of mechanism calculated to operate upon paper stock, efiecting economy in labor and other production costs, and executing such operations with precision and celerity.

The principal object of'the invention resides in the provision of an arrangement of mechanical parts embodying a coordinating assembly of a stock or paper elevator; a pair of steel feed rollers; a multiple of perforator-pin discs and perforator-pin bars; an equal multiple of rubber discs and a rubber roller; a pair of steel ironing or mangle rollers and a stock delivery.

In this machine the paper is fed, several sheets at a time, to two front guides and one side guide. In proper timing the top' feed roller drops into position across the sheets of paper with sufiicient tension to carry the sheets between the multiple of perforator-pin discs and an equal multiple of rubber discs; thence between a pair of ironing or mangle rollers.

As'the sheets pass through the perforator-pin discs and the rubber discs, the sharp perforatorpins pass through the paper into the rubber dies. The perforator-pin discs are adjusted to revolve over the rubber discs with sufficient tension to press the pins through the paper, the rubber discs being hard enough to resist the paper, yet soft enough to permit the entering of the points of the perforator-pins.

A lateral or cross perforation is accomplished on this machine by means of a perforator-pin bar, supported at each end by annular heads, ri'gidly attached to a steel shaft, being supported in the frame work at right angles to the perforation accomplished by the perforator-pin discs. A rubber roller, or steel shaft, with a rubber covering or sleeve is positioned under and parallel with the perforator bar. As the sheets pass between this perforator bar and the rubber roller, the same effect is accomplished as when passing between the perforator discsgand rubber discs.

This construction permits the accomplishing of as many horizontal and cross perforations as is desired in the same operation, depending upon the number of perforator discs and perforator bars with which the machine is equipped.

After the sheets are perforated, they pass between the ironing rollers, which are adjusted with sufficient tension to flatten the bur resulting on the underi side of the sheets.

It has been found that sheets of paper, when perforated in this manner, will not stickvtogether and may always be perforated before being printed, even though the perforation be in such at position as to be under the sucker feet of an automatic press.

The machine is so constructed as topermit of a strike in any position on the sheet of either the horizontal or cross perforations inth same operation. 1

The chief advantages of this method of perforation are the extremely low maintenance cost of the machine, the accomplishment of horizontal and cross perforations in the same operation, and the fact that the sheets may always be perforated before being printed. I

While the foregoing objects are paramount, other and lesser .objects will become manifest as the description proceeds taken in connection with the appended drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective illustration of the invention. Figure 2 is a diagrammatical view of the rollers and perforating discs as employed in the pre-' ferred form of the invention.

Figure 3 is another diagrammatical View similar to Figure 2 but illustrating the transverse perforating device used in the invention.

Figure 4 is a perspective View of a perforating disc particularly illustrating the pins.

Figure is a fragmentary portion of the transverse perforating device showing a portion of the supporting discs in cross-section. I

Figure 6 is a perspective view of thetransverse perforating arrangement, and

Figure '7 is an illustration of a modifiedform v of roller opposing the perforating discs. I

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view .of the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 1. Figure 9' is'a taken on lines 99 of Figure 8, and

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the feed roller mechanism.

An object of the invention being to providesuitable means of accomplishing one or several series of perforations at one time on a sheet of paper stock, it is desirable to include in its structure a synchronized unit operatingrtransversely of the sheet of stock and engaging the latter at intervals; determined by adjustments on the unit itself as well as its actuating elements,

Accordingly, therefore, the invention consists primarily of a frame I supporting a vertically ad- .justable feeding table 2 upon which a quantity of the paper stock is placed so that the topmost sheet may be engaged by an arrangement of feed rollers 3. The table 2 is connected to the frame l through a pair of rack bars 4 whose teeth are engaged by pinions 6 secured to the ends of the shaft 'l which extends through the frame l and journalled thereto.

The shaft l projects from the frame i, preferably on the left side thereof, as illustrated in Figure 1, and a hand wheel 8 is keyed thereon providing means for rotating thelsame. The racks 4 are slidably engaged in vertical guides 9 arranged within opposing sides of the frame I, as illustrated in Figures 1, 8 and 9. A deterrent or brake Hi engages the face of the wheel 8 and is supported by a lever H whose lowermost end is pivoted to the frame l at a. Tension is applied to the lever II through a spring l2, one end of which is secured to the vertical guides 9 maintaining the brake block ID in engagement with the wheel 8.

An inclined delivery or receiving table l3 operates within an integral portion of the frame I opposite the table 2, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 8, and is also adjustable with respect to its inclined plane and inversely to the adjustment of the feeding table 2, the latter being urged upwardly by the hand wheel 8 as the stock is fed into the machine while the delivery table l3 progresses downwardly at each operation of the hand wheel 8. This is accomplished through the reverse operation of the shaft I, upon which the hand wheel 8 is mounted, with that of a shaft M beneath the delivery table l3. Pinions l5 are secured upon the shaft Hi which engage the teeth of rack bars it slidably operating within the frame i and secured to the table L5. The shaft I4 is rotated in an opposite direction to the shaft l through the medium of a sprocket chain H which is crossed between the sprockets l8 and I9 mounted upon the shafts l and I4 respectively, as illustrated in Figure l.

Diagrammatical illustrations of the roller arrangements are shown in Figures 2 and 3 and will be presently described in detail. The ends of the shafts supporting these various rollers are journalled in bearings retained within adjustable bearing boxes 28 and 2t integral with the frame Ion each side thereof between the feeding table 2 and the delivery table l3. It will be noted, by reference to Figure 1, that the bearings 22, 23, 24 and 25 are vertically adjustable within the bearing boxes 2% and 2!, some of which bearings are adjustably fixed by set screws 2% while others are slidably arranged within the boxes 2B and 2| and are adapted to be operated by'a cam and lever arrangement which will be hereinafter more fully described.

The roller assembly is driven through the medium of a motor 2'! around whose pulley is arranged a belt 28 which surroundsanother pulley 29 mounted on a transverse shaft 30 which is journalled at-each end to the frame I. Still another pulley 3! is mounted upon the end of the shaft 30 which projects from one side of the frame I and around which is positioned a belt 32 for engaging a pulley 33 mounted upon the end of a shaft 34 arranged transversely through the assembly and rotatably supporting agear 2-35 which is meshed with other gears mounted on the various shafts of the roller assembly shown in Figures 2 and 3.

As previously stated, the primary object of the invention is that of providing a perforating medium for paper stock in connection with the printing thereof and to provide a means of arranging one or more series of perforations longitudinally of the stock, as the latter is passed through the machine, and transversely thereof at pre-determined intervals. It is, of course, desirable to provide means of adjustably spacing the perforations to afford various sized detachable forms in the stock in a most economical manner. Provision is therefore made for such adjustments.

Having particular reference to Figure 2, the feed rollers 3, opposingly rotated through the medium of gears 36 and 31, are driven by a gear 38 secured to a shaft 39. A gear is mounted upon a shaft 4| and is meshed with the gear 38. The gear 40 is adapted to engage the teeth of the gear .35 which meshes with the gear 42, whereas the latter engages the teeth of a gear 44 fixed to a shaft 45.

Perforations are impressed into the stock longitudinally of the latter with respect to its passage through the machine or transversely of the arrangement. of the various rollers and the shafts on which these members are mounted. The perforations are accomplished through the medium of toothed cylindrical members 46,

' shown in detail in Figure 4, and which are adjustably mounted on a shaft 41, shown in Figures 2 and 3, to Which is also secured a gear 48 for engaging the gear 40 secured to the shaft 6|. The cylindrical member 46 primarily consists of a disc having an annular flange 49 around which is arranged a series of orifices receiving a multiplicity of pointed pins 50 which extend radially from the outer periphery of the flange 49 of the member 46, in the manner illustrated in Figure 4, and having heads 5| arranged around the inner periphery of the flange vt9.

The pins 50 are retained in position by a disc 52, whose circumference is such as to be embraced by the flange 49, and is secured within the latter by screws 53. The members 46 are slidably arranged upon the shaft 41 and secured thereto through the medium of set screws 54. By reason of the slidable adjustment upon the shaft 41, the members 46 may be set to provide a series of perforations desirably spaced.

In order that the pointed pins 50 may completely penetrate the stock, opposing rollers 55 are arranged therebelow having yieldable surfaces, such as rubber, leather, fiber, or other suitable material, into which the pins 50 may be depressed. The opposing rollers 55 may be of metal having a circumferential groove slightly greater in width than the diameter of the pins 50 and suiiiciently deep to receive the full extended portion of the latter, as shown in Figure '7.

As the stock is fed into the machine from the table 2, the feed rollers 3 engage the material and urge the same beneath the toothed members 46 which bear against the stock feeding the same through the assembly and beneath mangle rollers 56 adjustably mounted upon the shaft 45. These members are also slidable on the shaft 45 in a manner similar to that of the members 46 and are adjusted immediately in line with these latter members to engage the stock along the series of perforations made by the pins 50 of the member 46. The rollers 56 bear opposingly against a roller51 which is preferably of metal. The function of the members 56 is that of smoothing out and pressing down any burs or projecting portions of the stock occasioned by the penetration of the pins 50. This is desirable in order that the stock'may'lie perfectly flat and smooth and that such projecting'portions may not presentexcessive bulk when the material 'is stacked and bound. 7 v

A transverse series of perforations in the stock is provided through the medium of an adjustable bar 58, illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, which is-secured on each end to annular flanges 59 integral with discs 68 which are mounted on a shaft 6| and secured thereto through the medium of pins 62. The bar 58 is slidable circumferentially upon the flange 59 and is adjustably securedthereto by set screws or wing-nuts 63, as illustrated particularly in Figure 5. 1

A series of pins 64, similar to the pins 58 in the member 46, are arranged longitudinally of the bar 56 and adjustably fixed therein by retaining plates 65 which aresecured to the bar 58 through the medium of screws 66. The bottom of the plates 65 bear against the heads 61 of the pins 64, as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, retaining the latter in position. The outer faces of the discs 68 may be graduated, or otherwise provided with a suitable scale, such as afiorded by the configurations 68 around the periphery of the discs 68, illustrated in Fig. 6, as an aid to the proper circumferential adjustment of the bar '58 upon the flange 59 of the members 60 to predetermine the contact of the pins 64 with the stock and in proper synchronization with the operation of the members 46, it being sometimes desirable to perforate the stock transversely of the longitudinal perforations at a pre-determined point along the length of the longitudinal series of perforations.

It is urged that the attachment of the transverse perforating assembly is optional and may be omitted if desired. The incorporation of this feature necessitates a minor modification in the arrangement shown in Figures 1, 2 and 8. This charge is illustrated in Figure 3. 'An additional roller 69 having a yieldable surface similar to'the rollers 55 is provided which the points of the pins 64 engage in perforating the stock.

The shaft 61 upon which the members 68 are mounted is rotated through the medium of a gear 10 meshed with a companion gear H mounted upon a shaft 12 carrying the roller 69, which is rotated bythe gear 38 through the gear 48 and an idler pinion 13 on a shaft l4, the said pinion l3 meshing with the gear H. A long mangle roller 56 is preferably substituted for the small rollers used with the assembly illustrated in Figure 2 in order to press out the transverse perforations as well as the longitudinal perforations provided by the members 46.

As previously stated, the stock is first received by the feed rollers 3, the uppermost of which is vertically operated, as shown in dotted lines in Figures 2 and 3, by rods 15 operatively attached,

at their upper ends, to the shaft of the upper roller 3 through the medium of pivoted levers 15 attached to slidable bearings 22, within bearing boxes 28, illustrated in Figure 1. The lowermost ends are pivotally attached to arms 16. rigidly fixed to an oscillating shaft 11, the latter being rocked or oscillated by a cam 18 attached to a shaft 19 extending transversely through the frame I through the medium ofan arm 88 rigidly attached to the shaft 11 having 'a roller secured to its opposite end engaging the cam 18.

The shaft 41, bearing the toothed members 46 is also vertically movable by a cam 8| adjustably mounted upon the shaft l9v which .actuates an arm 82 rigidly fixed, at its opposite'end, to'an-.

' determined distances.

other oscillating shaft 83. Anarm 84 secured to the end of the shaft 83 is connectedto rods 85 ex-.

tending upwardly and connecting with the ends of :theshaftfl lifting the latter when the cam 82 is rotated. This is accomplished by reason of the movement of the bearings 22 are vertically movable in the boxes 20.

Thearrangement just described will permit the perforating members 46 to bedisengaged from the paper stock at intervals determined by the adjustment of the cam 8| which may be loosened upon the shaft 19 and freely rotated to properly synchronize the operation thereof with that of the rest of the assembly. I

The cam shaft 19 is driven by 'a' sprocket wheel 86 and a sprocket chain 81 which surrounds a sprocket (not shown) fixed to the shaft 43 as particularly indicated by dotted lines in Figure 8.

There is an obvious tendency of the stock toadhere to the pins 50 of the members 46 as these elements pierce the paper, and in order to detach the material from the pins 58, stripper members 89 comprising a flexible strip of metal adjustably arranged immediately in front of the members 46 and behind thefeed rollers 3, as illustrated in Figure l. The strippers 89 are slidably arranged on a small rod 90 which extends transversely of the machine and parallelwith the roller .as-

sembly. These members are adjustable with respect to the adjustment or position of the perforating members 46 and are fixed in position upon the rod 96 by suitable set screws, or the like. The strippers 89 extend downwardly beneath the members 46 engaging the paper stock and, by reason of their tension, strip the'material from the pins 50 allowing the stock to continue through the machine.

In operation, therefore, the paper stock is placed upon the table 2 after the latter has been adjusted so that the topmost sheet is on a plane with the apron. 88 immediately in front of the feed rollers 3. The stock is fed between the feed rollers 3 which separate, by reason of the .ar-'

rangement previously described, as illustrated in Figures 2 and'3, until the stock has been urged therebetween against automatically operated guides (not shown) immediately in front of the members 46 which have been adjusted with respect to each other upon the shaft 41.

In operation, the stock is received by the rollers 3 and perforated by the pins 58 of the discs 46. As the material passes through the machine the mangles 56 engage the stock and urge the same on to the delivery table I3 which is automatically adjusted in coordination with the feed table. 2 through the medium of the hand wheel 8 which operates to move, in an opposite direction, the

' lowered in like proportion as the amount of the stock increases thereon.

When the transverse perforating, assembly is used, the bar 58 is adjusted around the annular flange 59 and fixed thereto at such a position as to cause the pins64 to strike the paper, at pre- Manifestly, the structure shown and described is capable of considerable changes andrnodifications by those skilled in the art and such changes and modifications which may be resorted to fromtime to time and which may be con sideredwithin. the spirit-and intent .of' the invention may also be considered as falling the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with apparatus for perforating paper stock including a frame, a vertically adjustable feeding table and a delivery table, cylinders having pointed pins extending circumferentially therefrom rotatably fixed to a driven shaft arranged transversely with respect to the movement of the said stock, said pins engaging and perforating the said stock, rotary yieldable means providing backing for the said stock opposing the said pins, automatic adjustable means comprising a driven cam, slidable bearings supporting the said driven shaft, and means cooperating the said cam and the said bearings for vertically operating the said cylinders at predetermined intervals disengaging the said pins and means smoothing the said perforations as the stock passes through the assembly.

2. In combination with apparatus for perforating paper stock including a frame, a vertically adjustable feeding table and a delivery table, perforating discs having pointed pins extending circumferentially therefrom adjustably fixed to a driven shaft transversely arranged through the said frame, the said pins engaging and perforat ing the said stock, rotary yieldable means providing backing for the said stock opposing the said pins, a perforator bar having a series of pointed pins longitudinally arranged thereon and supported by a pair of annularly flanged discs mounted upon a driven shaft parallel to the first named driven shaft, the said bar axially adjustable with respect to its said driven shaft, rotary yieldable means providing backing for the said stock opposing the said pins in the said bar, automatic adjustable means vertically operating the said first named shaft at pro-determined inter- Vals disengaging the said pins and means smoothing the said perforations as the stock passes through the assembly. I

3. In combination with apparatus for perforating paper stock including a frame, a vertically adjustable feeding table and a delivery table, perforating discs having pointed pins extending circumferentially therefrom adjustably fixed to a driven shaft arranged transversely with respect to the movement of the said stock, the said pins engaging and perforating the said stock, rotary means providing backing for the said stock opposing the said discs and receiving the points of the said pins, a perforating bar longitudinally supporting a multiplicity of perforating pins mounted on a pair of discs rotatably supported by a driven shaft, the said bar adjustable axially of the said shaft, the said pins supported by the said bar engaging and perforating the said stock transversely thereof with respect to its movement, automatic adjustable means vertically operating the said driven shaft carrying the said perforating discs at, predetermined intervals disengaging the said pins and means smoothing the perforations in the said stock as the latter passes through the assembly.

4. In combination with apparatus for perforating paper stock including a frame, a vertically adjustable feeding table and a delivery table, rotary means providing perforations in the said stock longitudinally thereof with respect to the passage of the latter through the rotary assembly, the said perforating means adjustably spaced, adjustable means cooperating with the said rotary means providing cross perforations engaging the said stock transversely of the perfora- Within adjustable feeding table and a delivery table,

rotary perforating discs mounted on a driven shaft arranged parallel with respect to the movement of the said stock and longitudinally adjustable with respect to the said shaft, a series of pointed perforating pins circumferentially arranged upon the said discs, a perforating bar having a longitudinal arrangement of pointed perforating pins supported by a pair of annularly flanged discs mounted on a driven shaft parallel with the said first named driven shaft, the said bar adjustable axially of its said shaft, the said perforating discs and the said perforating bar cooperating in effecting longitudinal and horizontal perforations in the said stock, rotary means cooperating with the said perforating discs and the said perforating bar providing backing for the said stock and receiving the points of the said pins, means automatically disengaging the said perforating pins carried by the said perforating discs from the said stock at pre-determined intervals and means smoothing the said perforations as the stock passes through the assembly.

6. In a perforating mechanism comprising a frame, a stock elevator and a stock delivery; a multiple of perforator-pin discs having a circumferential series of perforator pins arranged thereon; a multiple of discs having a resilient outer covering opposing the said perforator pins and providing a cushion therefor; a pair of mangle rollers; means comprising a pair of feed rollers, one of which is supported in a pair of slidable bearings, a cam, and cooperation between the cam and the bearings for conveying a sheet of paper stock between the said perforator pin discs and the said opposing resilient discs and means urging the said stock between said mangle rollers to the said delivery; such mechanical combinations accomplishing perforations parallel to the movement of the said sheet.

7. In a perforating mechanism for paper stock comprising a frame; a stock elevator and a stock delivery; a pair of driven discs; a perforator-pin bar extending between the said discs and having a series of perforator pins the said bar being positioned at right angles to the movement of a sheet of stock; means providing circumferential adjustment of the said bar with respect to the peripheries of the said discs; a shaft having a resilient covering interposed in the said frame under and parallel to the said perforator pin bar, the said resilient covering providing a cushion for the said perforator pins affixed to the said perforator bar; a pair of mangle rollers; means for conveying a sheet of stock between the said perforator-pin bar and the said shaft having the said resilient covering, through the said mangle rollers to delivery; such mechanical combinations adapted to accomplish perforations at a right angle to the movement of the said sheet.

8. In a perforating mechanism comprising a frame and a stock elevator; a multiple of perforating discs carrying a circumferential series of perforator pins; a multiple of discs having a resilient surface opposing the said perforating pins and providing a cushion therefor; a perforator-pin bar bearing a series of perforator pins adjustably supported by a shaft rotatably mounted in the said frame; a shaft having a resilient surface rotatably mounted in the said frame under and parallel to the said perforator pin bar, the said resilient surface providing a cushion for the perforating pins afiixed in vsaid perforator bar; a pair of mangle rollers; means conveying a sheet of paper stock between the said perforator-pin discs and aforesaid opposing resilient discs, thence between aforesaid perforator pin bar and aforesaid shaft with resilient covering and between aforesaid mangle rollers to delivery; such mechanical combinations accomplishing both vertical and horizontal perforations in the same operation.

9. In a perforating mechanism comprising a frame, a stock elevator and a stock delivery; a multiple of perforator-pin discs carrying a circumferential series of perforator pins; a multiple of discs having a circumferential groove equal in discs; a shaft having a resilient covering mounted in the said frame under and parallel to the said shaft bearing the said annularly flanged discs, the said resilient covering providing a cushion for the said perforator pins arranged in the said perforator bar; a pair of mangle rollers; means for conveying a sheet of paper stock between the said perforator pin discs and the said opposing discs, thence between the said perforator bar and the said shaft having the said resilient covering and between the said mangle rollers to the delivery; such mechanical combinations accomplishing both vertical and horizontal perforations in the same operation. Y

10. In a perforating mechanism comprising. a frame, a stock elevator and a delivery; a multiple of perforator-pin discs carrying a circumferential arrangement of severally replaceable perforator pins; a multiple of opposing discs having a circumferential groove equal in width to the diameter of the said perforator pins and of a depth permitting the entering of the perforator pin points thereinto, the said opposing discs providing a female die for the said perforator pins; a pair of mangle rollers; means for conveying a sheet of paper stock between the said perforator pin discs and the said opposing grooved discs and between the said mangle rollers to; the said delivery; such mechanical combinationsaccomplishing perforations parallel to the movement of the saidsheet. l

11. In combination witha perforating apparatus, a mechanism for laterally perforating sheets of stock comprising a pair of rotatable discs arranged in axial alignment with respect'to each other, annular flanges on the inner faces of the said discs, at bar between the peripheries of the said discs, adjustable clamping means connect-. I

ing the ends of the bar with the said flanges, 

